A Scene From WWII
Makes you think that you are looking at a scene from World War II. One of the very few remaining flying P-38 Lightning fighters taking off for flybys at the Palm Springs Air Museum. Photographed just yesterday against the scenic backdrop of the San Jacinto Mountains. Something to see all the time at the Air Museum and special programs and flight demonstrations on Saturdays. Be there!
P-38 Flying On Saturday
There might be only six or fewer P-38’s left flying in the world and you can see one of them tomorrow, Saturday Feb 11th. At the Palm Springs Air Museum following the 1:00 PM program. Do not miss this rare opportunity. I will be there and bringing my cameras like I did here in 2015. So if you are the pilot, remember to smile as you go by. See you there!
This one is a Lockheed P-38J Lightning of World War II built in 1943. Two 12 cylinder 1,425 hp turbo charged Allison engines will take this plane to 402 mph and it has a service ceiling of 44,000 ft. It was armed with four .50 caliber machine guns and a 20mm cannon. Some versions could carry two 1,000 pound bombs. The P-38 was the only American fighter aircraft that saw service from the beginning of the war at Pearl Harbor to V.J. Day.
Role Play!
This photograph from our shoot might make you think “role play”. However it really should be “role model”. Stacey Naito as in Dr. Stacey Naito is not only a certified family practice physician but also a fitness professional. So when you say you don’t have time to be fit or whatever your excuse is for whatever you are wanting to do, check in with Stacey first. She can help you to correct that error. A big shout out to the so very talented Blanche LeBeau for the Makeup and Hair Styling and Wardrobe Styling.
Safety Crew
So I came up with this new idea for staffing and uniforms for the Safety Crew at the Palm Springs Air Museum. Professional model Gabriella Muttone was kind enough to volunteer for a few photographs and show us what I had in mind. It is my understanding that the concept is under full consideration and everybody would like to see Gabriella return as soon as possible for further demonstrations.
Photo shoot notes… Hasselblad digital camera system and Broncolor lighting. Only the best. And speaking of the best, Gabriella is one extraordinary photographer herself. Check her out at https://gabriella-muttone.squarespace.com
That Palm Springs Sun
Modernism Week Palm Springs is coming up. What will you be wearing? The feel of that Palm Springs sun is like no other. Ask Séverine as she stood in front of my camera out by the pool.
Makeup and styling by the ever “Mod” Blanche LeBeau. Hasselblad digital camera system and Broncolor lighting. So Good!
The Colonel’s 97th Birthday
Tuskegee Airmen Lt. Col. Bob Friend. Celebrating the Colonel’s 97th birthday at the Palm Springs Air Museum. The P-51 Mustang “Bunny” flown by pilot Tom Nightingale doing flybys, restored as a replica of the famed Tuskegee Airmen “Red-Tail” P-51’s.
In Person Living History
Today, Saturday you will have an opportunity like none other. A celebration of the 97th birthday of Tuskegee Airman Lt. Col. Bob Friend. Another true guest of honor and Tuskegee Airman, Capt. Rusty Burns will be there too. Do not miss the chance to greet and meet these two American heroes. There will also be an honoring of World War II “Buffalo Soldier” George Edwards who recently passed away at the age of 96. At the Palm Springs Air Museum beginning at 1:00 PM. You will not only share in birthday cake but also see “Bunny” fly. The P-51 Mustang of Tuskegee Airmen fame!
So Many!
The subject came up about all of the photo shoots I did for Bodybuilding.com. Having become one of the most visited websites in the world, sales for the company had grown to exceed a half billion dollars per year. During those growth years, I photographed their advertising, online and print magazine features and endless bodybuilding and fitness competitions around the country. Most memorable for me, so many, very many. But way at the top was the advertising, video and features that came out of my photo shoot with Maria Rogers. “A picture is worth a thousand words” and way more!
It Takes Four
Sometimes a photo shoot is just perfect. The model, a very extraordinary gorgeous Séverine. Incredible makeup and styling by the globe trotting Blanche LeBeau. And not a time to use anything but the best photo gear; Hasselblad digital camera system and Broncolor lighting. As for me… one very happy photographer!
Ever Ever
One of my all time favorite photographs I have ever shot ever. The incredible wonderful Tina Chandler during her Olympia bodybuilding competition.
Hypnotic
Hypnotic, the only way to describe the look of Amber Flowers when she is looking at you. Photo shoot notes… Styling, makeup and hair styling by Amber. Hasselblad digital camera system. Lighting by Broncolor. Only the best!
T-34 Fly In
Eight T-34’s flew in yesterday and there will be more this morning, as many as sixteen total. A weekend fly in at the Palm Springs Air Museum. You can come out and see formation flying at around 10 AM and also around 2 PM following the 1 PM history program about Germany’s first Ace fighter pilot of World War I and considered the father of air combat, Oswald Boelcke. There will also be some flying on Sunday!
The T-34 was the trainer for the United States Air Force, Navy and Marine Corp. They flew at Edwards Air Force Base, for NASA, and even for Argentina during the Falklands War. And the planes you will see here at the Air Museum are incredibly restored great looking airplanes. Be there! I will!
Is This What You Wanted To See!
“Is this what you wanted to see!”… From my photo shoot with Kajira. She is too good! Photo shoot notes… Hasselblad digital camera system and Broncolor lighting. Only the best!
Spa And Cactus
Desert Hot Springs, known for little spas and boutique hotels, some really nice, some not so much. A small town, founded in 1941, nearby the much larger resort city of Palm Springs. Built by tourism coming for the natural mineral hot springs and then by real estate speculation. Having seen good times and bad times, there is still a mix of the times gone in signs of the past, if you just take the time and go look. From a photography excursion just yesterday.
Remember Where You Parked
Monday I went on a photo excursion around Palm Springs for weather related photographs. This is usually a dry river bed in the Araby Cove neighborhood. The rains have made an actual rushing river out of it and cutting off one of only two roads in and out of the area. And you wonder why it is needed to actually post “Road Closed” signs and barriers. I guess someone did’t get the memo.
“Playing With Life”
From my friend JoAnne Windsand…. she said to me… this is “my version of your work, called “Playing With Life”; “the feeling of sensuality along with my own passion for Life”.
I must say that I think this is so very sexy beyond words! Now my goal is to have my photography live up to her kindness. Thank You JoAnne!
I had met JoAnne at the Palm Springs Photo Festival. Please visit her and her art and photography at www.joannewindsand.com Please do and Thanks!
Value Added Bonus
Hang out at the Palm Springs Air Museum and you often get the added fun of military aircraft flying at the airport. Saturday saw T-45 jet trainers taking off and landing. Out of Naval Air Facility El Centro, these trainers are fully aircraft carrier capable and will do 645 mph. When I am there, I always have a camera at the ready. Wow!
One Of Only One
Saturdays at the Palm Springs Air Museum brings us great programs and flight demonstrations. This last Saturday brought us the only still flying World War II P-51A Mustang. There are other still flying Mustangs but this is the early A version powered by 1200 hp Allison engine. It had a maximum speed of 409 mph and carried four .50 caliber machine guns. The plane was designed to be strictly an air to air combat aircraft. Now owned by Planes Of Fame in Chino CA. I had the pilot stop mid-air right in front of me so I could shoot this photograph. Ok maybe not.
SAM 44
That is Special Air Mission 44 carrying President Obama. Until a few hours before the designation would have been Air Force One. On Friday, I waited in the rain just South of the runway for the arrival. I have been there before photographing Air Force One but always in bright sunny weather. Visibility was very limited but I knew it was coming in from listening to the control tower.
I heard it first, but coming from the wrong direction, behind me and not where I would have usually seen it. Just appearing as a ghost out of the clouds, that giant 747 had added power and was turning East away from lining up on runway 31 left. I fired away with my camera as it again disappeared into the dark clouds.
SAM 44 headed back up to higher altitude to await possible better weather, I lost track of how much time elapsed, maybe an hour. From the conversation with the control tower I knew it was coming back on final approach. From my vantage point the weather conditions looked even worse. Then I saw that ghostly apparition, slightly visible in the dark clouds and rain, go around again as I fired away with my camera.
Did 20 minutes go by or maybe 30 when I heard the pilot advise the tower that they were deciding on diverting to another airport. Another 10 minutes and the pilot advised that they were diverting to March Air Reserve Base and requesting clearance to 10,000 ft. Not long after that, requesting clearance to 17,000 ft and then on the way to March.
I must say I find the photographs I shot really interesting, and as one person said, very historical. Within 90 minutes I had them online with Zuma Press, one of the largest photo press agencies in the world. All in all, I am going to remember this for a long time to come. Thanks!
SEX
SEX… There I said it. The gorgeous Aristodeme is reading it. Many photographs to see in it too. “SEX” conceived and featuring Madonna was released in 1992. Photographs and writings of pornography, simulations of all kinds of sexual acts, sadomasochism, raunchy and very erotic.
At the time, critics said it went way too far. But ultimately it was a defining moment for Madonna, her creativity, and as a champion for women’s sexuality and equality. It sold 150,000 copies on the first day of it’s release. “SEX” is perhaps the most sought after out of print book ever released.
My photo shoot with Aristodeme on a Hasselblad digital camera system and Broncolor lighting.
Rude
Don’t you just hate it when people leave their car blocking the pumps when they go to the restroom. From a Death Valley excursion, photographed with a Hasselblad digital camera.
Don’t Tell Her
I am keeping this a secret. I think my buddy Maria Bertrand is one of the most incredibly gorgeous women I have ever known. As many times I have seen her in front of my cameras I have never been left with anything but without words. Photo shoot notes… Hasselblad digital camera system. The dress is Guess by Marciano. Off Mulholland Drive above Beverly Hills.
Looking At Her Looking At You
Look away, no you just can’t. Even when you do, you still see her looking at you. This gorgeous woman, Amber Flowers in our photo shoot. She also created her makeup, hair and wardrobe styling. One incredibly talented and beautiful individual.
Photo shoot notes… Hasselblad digital camera system and Broncolor lighting. Only the best!
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